For an analysis of the Supreme Court case, see D:F for March 16, 2015 (http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df4/df03162015.shtml ) The author lives and practices law in South Orange, New Jersey. The content of this article is presented for information purposes only. It is not intended to be construed as a legal opinion.

He has ridden approximately 600,000 miles on Amtrak during the past twenty years, encompassing the entire Amtrak system. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Rail Users' Network (RUN). the opinions expressed are his own, and do not necessary reflect those of any other person or organization.

Because of the time-sensitive nature of this story, the next article in the series about trans-Hudson mobility will appear in next weeks edition.

Written comments about late night service will also be accepted through Friday, February 12, and can be mailed to: MBTA, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Late-Night Service Committee.

Comments may also be submitted online at www.mbta.com; by email at latenightservice@mbta.com; or by phone at (617) 222-5146. Written comments about the MBTA fare proposals will be accepted through Friday, February 12, 2016, and can be mailed to: MBTA, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116, Attention: Fare Proposal Committee; online at mbta.com; by email at fareproposal@mbta.com; or by phone at (617) 222-3200, TTY (617) 222-5146.

All meetings and locations are accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please call 617-222-3200.

Please visit www.mbta.com for more information about the MBTA and the schedule of public meetings and their locations.

Elsewhere, this past week the MBTA suffered several weather-related problems that brought back memories of last winters major service outage to the transit and commuter rail system.

Several subway trains across several lines saw trains that simply ceased to work for various reasons resulting in system-wide back-ups and delays. On the Haverhill commuter rail branch a broken rail near Lawrence, MA, attributed to a recent cold weather snap, caused a non-revenue MBTA train to derail blocking the line. During the re-railing of the coaches that went off the track and repairs to the track itself, buses were implemented to bridge the gap to where trains could be boarded. However the accident caused the Amtrak Downeaster, which uses the same tracks to reach New Hampshire, to cancel several daytime runs until the tracks were cleared and repaired.

These delays which have become a consistent problem with the aging fleet is not producing a warm and fuzzy feeling to the MBTA ridership and many people in multiple communities are already speaking out against any rate increase. The issue has also soured public opinion on the proposed fare increases as well. While fare increases are rarely welcome with open arms, the MBTAs reputation in the public eye has deteriorated in the last year.

Two of the videos are directed at the federal government, asking why VIA has the oldest fleet in the industrialized world and why the publicly-owned corporation gets such a shabby deal from Canadas freight railways.

The third video is directed to Queens Park, says West. The Ontario government is just beginning a long and expensive process to build its own high-speed passenger railway between Toronto and Windsor. If its ever built, it will cost taxpayers billions and it will bypass St. Marys, Stratford, Woodstock and several other important points in the existing VIA Southwestern Ontario system. We think citizens should be asking their MPPs for an explanation of what we view as an expensive pie-in-the-sky scheme and why the province is not partnering with Ottawa to jointly improve the existing VIA service.

As well, Save VIA will be reaching out directly to MPs, MPPs and municipal politicians throughout Southwestern Ontario in the coming months to suggest ways to improve the regions rail passenger service in the quickest and most cost-effective manner.

Says West, The time is ripe for us  and for the public  to engage with the politicians. Our new federal government has committed to tackling climate change, addressing Canadas accumulated infrastructure deficit and boosting our economic prospects by making us a more accessible and interconnected nation. As we will be pointing out to them, improving and expanding VIA is a logical way to take action on all those issues.

West notes that initial contact with several new MPs has been most encouraging and has demonstrated they are both familiar with the VIA situation and interested in delving into it further. Key opposition MPs  who have previously supported Save VIAs aims and objectives  are also voicing their determination to make VIA an issue in Parliament in 2016.

VIA needs real and sustainable improvement now, says West. This fourth phase of the Save VIA campaign will convey that need to those who can take action. Its our intention to make that case with the politicians, whether that be in their ridings, at Queens Park or on Parliament Hill. Our chances for success have never been greater now that were dealing with so many elected officials who understand the importance of this issue.

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on election night, In Canada, better is always possible. Fixing VIA is a perfect way to demonstrate that  and thats the case well be making.

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